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LinkedHistory was made last Friday when two male characters locked lips on As the World Turns. The five-second kiss between Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) was the first between men on daytime television and came four years after two women kissed on All My Children. "The story is really about to just pick up," Silbermann told AfterElton.com. "After the kiss, it's really just beginning for them." CanWest News Service

Now here's a story that became a little happier the more I looked into it. Thanks to a tip on our forums, I learned that a YouTube clip of the kiss between Luke and Noah from Friday's As the World Turns was flagged as inappropriate. When a clip is flagged, it is restricted to registered YouTube users who give their birth date to verify that they are 18 or older. My interest was further raised when I read on a message board that "Nuke" fans were re-uploading the clip on their accounts, leaving new versions that would have to be flagged all over again making it so that anyone searching the site for a clip of Luke and Noah's first kiss would certainly be able to find it without having to register to the site to get past the flag.

The double-standard of what counts as "inappropriate" on YouTube isn't a new discovery. In January, AfterEllen wrote about how mild depictions of lesbian affection tends to get flagged on YouTube while similar scenes of heterosexual love get left alone. Meanwhile, in May, we noted a a clip with a particularly hateful anti-gay message that had gone unflagged for six months.

While the earliest clip to feature Luke and Noah's kiss remains flagged (meaning a user felt it was inappropriate and called the site's attention to it), you can find ten more clips that are currently unflagged. So far, only one duplicates the clip that was originally flagged, meaning that several different users went through the effort of converting the scene into a digital format and uploading it to be shared. However, the flagged video remains the most popular one, having over two hundred thousand views (as of this moment, at least).

I have to admit, I came into this story feeling a little cynical but seeing so much fan support for Luke and Noah, as well as a good amount of interest, has made me feel a little less negative. It's important to remember that YouTube is for the most part user-driven, and while that leads to most of its problems (the uploading of copyrighted content like this, hateful messages) it also represents an upside: our voice in these matters does not go unheard. So check out the clips, add more, and add positive comments 'til your fingers bleed. Because you know the haters are doing the same.

LinkedIn the 1990 film Longtime Companion, a group of friends gathered to watch a historical event -- the very first male gay kiss on daytime television. And this week, a mere seventeen years later, reality finally caught up to fiction. (By contrast, the time between Jaime Sommers' bionic ear and the first FDA-approved cochlear implant? Eight years.)

On Friday's episode of As the World Turns, after weeks of will-they-or-won't-they anticipation, teen dreams Luke and Noah sealed their attraction with daytime TV's first mano-a-mano kiss. Yowza.

Sure, All My Children broke the daytime gay-smooching barrier in 2003 when Bianca laid one on Lena, but lesbians are always ahead of the curve. L.A. Law had an all-girl kiss three years before Melrose Place famously cut away from poor gay Matt's one chance at on-screen action. Even Will & Grace, a show whose main cast was literally 50% homosexual characters, had two onscreen gay kisses in its entire eight season run. (Though one was with the delicious Taye Diggs, who by all rights should really count as at least three or four regular men.) So, yeah. It's still a big deal.

Next week: Luke says to Noah's (d'oh!) girlfriend, Maddie, "There's something you don't know about Noah." Yeah, no kidding, Luke. Now, soaps being soaps, he's probably just going to tell her Noah doesn't like her coffee, or something. But still.

LinkedHistory was made last Friday when two male characters locked lips on As the World Turns.

The five-second kiss between Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) was the first between men on daytime television and came four years after Bianca (Eden Riegel) and Lena (Olga Sosnovska) kissed on All My Children.

In a statement posted on its website, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) praised the 51-year-old soap opera.

ďCBS and As the World Turns are to be commended for showing an authentic expression of this couple's affection for each other just as they would with any other characters,Ē said GLAAD Entertainment Media Director Damon Romine.

In the scene, Noah moves in for a kiss while Luke is helping him tighten his necktie. Luke draws back briefly and then continues kissing.

The smooch came after weeks of physical tension between openly gay Luke and Noah, who is dating Maddie (Alexandra Chando) on the show.

ďThe story is really about to just pick up,Ē Silbermann told AfterElton.com. ďAfter the kiss, it's really just beginning for them. I'd really like to see the characters move along with their relationship. I'd like to see them experience the same things a lot of the other relationships on the show have experienced.Ē

Both Silbermann, 24, and Hansis, 25, are making their television debuts on As the World Turns.

Just as I'm enjoying four consecutive days of seeing Van Hansis on As the World Turns, Hansis puts a cherry on top with the latest entry on his CBS.com blog (a blog that, annoyingly, lacks permalinks). Hansis, fresh off his history-making kiss, takes questions from fansite VanHansis.net and answers them at his blog, displaying humor, a bit of charm, and more than a bit of humility. Here are a few choice answers:

On Luke Snyder's (his ATWT character) future: Watch what's happening for Luke in the next few months. Big stuff. Big, big stuff and I'm pretty excited to play it.

On his dream casting for Luke's next love interest: PAULA DEAN! Because I watch her show at the gym sometimes and want her to cook for me. Kidding. Kidding. I donít know. Jake is cool though, so I would rather have them develop the Luke/Noah thing than bring someone new in. It might be cool if they brought Kevin back though as a twist.

On performing in love scenes with Jake Silbermann: It's sort of like the battle of the stubble.

On dealing with fame:

It's still a bit strange to me that I even have fans.

On his online hangouts: Myspace.com, youtube.com, newyorktimes.com, newsarama.com, comicbookresouces.com, vanhansis.net, imdb.com, and lots of blogs and stuff about New York. I also go to some of those celebrity blogs, even though I hate to admit it. Going to those is like eating at McDonalds, so good while you are there but afterwards you feel a little sick to your stomach.

Hmm, sometimes the Newsarama forums (but not, I should add, the fabulous blog@Newsarama) give me the same feeling.

I'm hoping that we will see plenty of Luke in the next few months, as Hansis promises. I know a lot of Luke fans are expecting for the character to disappear sometime in September, similar to what happened last year.

That's only a sampling of his responses, however. Check out the full entry to learn his favorite comic book moments, some kind words about Martha Bryne (who plays Luke's mother, Lily) and, of course, the answer to the "Boxers or briefs?" question. And of course be sure to read our own interview with this exceptional young actor.

August 15, 2007: Answers to Your Burning QuestionsAll right people it is time to blog. I guess I got distracted again. I have this new set up with Alan, one of our public relations gurus, that whenever he feels the blog is lacking he shoots me an email and then I post a blog. See, I'm easy, tell me what to do and I do it. Hah.

The thing was though, I didnít know what to blog about this time. The summer? Lukeís towel scene? Whatís coming up for Luke and Noah? I do all that stuff in interviews. I wanted something new, and like a bolt of lightning, something new showed up.

You see, I have this awesome fansite www.vanhansis.net. I was bopping about, seeing what everyone had to say, as I sometimes do on the net, and there was this thread that was like 'If you could ask Van one question what would it be?' So, as a gift to those kickass fans who support me and have something to ask me, here goes (and as you see, were starting with a classic):

Frisco asks: Boxers or briefs? Answer: Usually boxer briefs actually, sometimes briefs though and on occasion boxers. I donít like the way boxers bunch up.

RogerD asks: Career-wise, I would ask Van what are his ultimate plans in the business (i.e. does he want to continue to do theater and stay in New York or does he ultimately want to do big budget films in Hollywood). On a personal level, I would ask him what he values most in another person. Answer: Well, RogerD, I just want to be a working actor. I love New York, so ideally I'd like to stay here if I could. However, I also love television as a medium, so I want to explore that, too. I will never give up theater, but it's a reality that if you don't sing or dance, making a living in theater can be tough. As far as big budget blockbusters, who knows? They wouldn't be what I would actively seek out, but if one happens for me, I wouldnít be against it. As for what I look for in other people it's generally humor and integrity, pretty simple huh? Don't be self obsessed and have opinions that you know how to share without coming across as ignorant or overblown.

Brhannada's Armour asks: What is the most powerful, original, and/or enlightening story you can imagine for your character? Answer: Watch what's happening for Luke in the next few months. Big stuff. Big, big stuff and I'm pretty excited to play it.

Celbabs asks: What is your phone number? Answer: If only you knew..... :)

BNJ31 asks: What is your favorite thing about New York and where do you hang out? Answer: I love New York because you can get everything here - every food, every type of performance. Sitting in the park is endlessly entertaining watching the people. I love the way New Yorkers band together in crisis and I love the food. I usually hang out downtown or in my neighborhood in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is my favorite borough.

Lildenlover asks: Is Martha Byrne very different from her character? Answer: Yes, she is Ė very, very different. Martha is freakiní hilarious. She is so witty and quick. She is also pretty business savy, which Lily seems not to be at all.

Jai asks: Who is your favorite dialogue writer on the show? Answer: Honestly, I have no idea. Soaps keep their writers very separate from actors so I donít really know who writes what.

B32guy asks: Are you happy? Answer: Yes. Very much so!

Soapsuds asks: What were you like as a kid? Answer: Well, I was chubby. Also I lived on the top of a mountain, so I was pretty much outside all the time. My family didnít have a TV, so I developed a pretty strong imagination. Oddly enough, I think not having a television was what pushed me into acting. I have always been very close with my parents and they really were my best friends growing up.

EKS511 asks: What website do you visit the most? Answer: Myspace.com, youtube.com, newyorktimes.com, newsarama.com, comicbookresouces.com, vanhansis.net, imdb.com, and lots of blogs and stuff about New York. I also go to some of those celebrity blogs, even though I hate to admit it. Going to those is like eating at McDonalds, so good while you are there but afterwards you feel a little sick to your stomach.

Mysterious asks: What's it like doing intimate scenes with Jake? Answer: It's sort of like the battle of the stubble.

Madhaker asks: Believe it or not...I'd ask him what was his favorite and least favorite comic book moments of the last few years was. Insightful but not too personal. Or, I'd ask him about the Henry Davis YouTube videos: was it scripted, improved or a bit of both? Answer: Favorite comic moment: Death of Captain America. An amazing death that hit you out of the blue. Least favorite comic moment: The Return of Captain Marvel. He had a really poignant death over thirty years ago I think and I don't see the point of his return. Only bring a character back from the dead if there is a void that only they can fill. I donít think there was that void with this particular character. As far as Henry Davis goes (for those not in the know, go to youtube.com and look up Henry Davis) that was just something I did for fun with my friend Zeke Farrow. It was not scripted but we discussed ideas. You should look up his mother 'Sheri Davis'. She is even funnier than Henry.

Browneyes><94 asks: what is your favorite movie? Answer: Too many to name. I guess I would have to say Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, though.

Safari01 asks: if you could choose who would play Luke's next love interest who would it be and why? Answer: PAULA DEAN! Because I watch her show at the gym sometimes and want her to cook for me. Kidding. Kidding. I donít know. Jake is cool though, so I would rather have them develop the Luke/Noah thing than bring someone new in. It might be cool if they brought Kevin back though as a twist.

Darkgreen81 asks: can I buy you coffee? Van answers: Please do with sugar and a little bit of skim or soymilk.

Seanny asks: I want to know who's his inspiration for his portrayal of Luke and also how come he doesn't address all his fans here? Answer: Part of my inspiration for Luke is based a bit on an old friend of mine, but I donít really have one 'inspiration'. I honestly donít think about it too much. Why don't I address my fans on my fansite? I might some day. It's still a bit strange to me that I even have fans. Who knows, maybe I will. But hey at least you all got your questions answered. And again, I want to thank you all for being so cool and supportive. It really really means a lot to me.

Soapsuds asks: What were you like as a kid? Answer: Well, I was chubby. Also I lived on the top of a mountain, so I was pretty much outside all the time. My family didnít have a TV, so I developed a pretty strong imagination. Oddly enough, I think not having a television was what pushed me into acting. I have always been very close with my parents and they really were my best friends growing up.

And that would me....haha...Soapsuds...got to love it. Van is awesome!! :hail: